Improved portable propeller and steerer for boats



El' 'f @Amo N'PSTERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPNEL WASHINGTON, D. GA

PATENT Orinda,l

THOMAS REEOE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IIVIPROVED PORTABLE PROPELLER AND STEERER FOR'BOATS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 59,0711, datcd October 23, 1866.

v To all whom it 'may concern.-

-1owing to be a full, clear, and exact vdescription thereof, reference being had to the annexed drawing, making a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to provide small vessels-such as whale-boats, yawls, jolly-bcats, skiffs, and the like, usually propelled by oars or small sails-with a propelling apparatus, to be operated by man-power, that may be attached or detached from its position, as may be required.

The drawing 'represents a perspective view of this portable apparatus, in which a a a a" is a frame of wood or metal. b b are the propeller-blades, attached to the hub b, supported upon the shaft or axle b. c isthe rudder, hinged to what may be called the rudderpost77 c of the frame. c is the-tiller, and c tiller-arms. d is aclamp afxed to the lower, or near the lower, end ofthe post a, by which this post is fastened, by means of the screw d', to the lower end ofthe stern-post of the boat. eis a piece of frame-work attached to the upper end ofthe post a, having two or more projecting` bent arms, e e", by which the whole apparatus is hung or suspended upon the boat, and secured there by the screws ec. From e to e a straight or bent beam, f, is extended to give support to the axle g. Tothe inner end of this axle the fly-wheel h is attached, and z' is the handle affixed thereto. This part of the arrangement may be modified by attaching the handle t' to the head of the axle g by a crank and placing the ly-wheel on the other end of the axle; or a y-wheel may be used at the same time on both ends thereof. Moreover, a treadle may be used to give motion to the machineryv ot' propulsion by the foot orv otherwise, instead of the hand, or wind-power may be applied. On the other or outer end of the axle g there is attached a bevel-wheel, j, gearing into another wheel, (beveled,) j. This latter is secured upon the head of the rod 7c, which, passing down through the knee or cleat l, carries on its lower end another bevel-wheel, a, that gears into another similar wheel, o, fastened upon the axle b of the propeller.

It is evident that instead of this gearing arrangement, a crank or belt motion may be used to give motion to the propeller.

From the extremities of the tiller-arms c" cords or chains pass to the boat, to give the required motion to the rudder c.

As the size of this entire devices to be so constructed as to suit the capacity of the boat to which it is to be applied, it can be stowed away in the latter when not required for use. It is easily putin place, and will need, in most cases, no more than the power of a single man to give propulsion to the boat.

To those familiar with the subject, many cases will suggest themselves where such an auxiliary means to those now in use may be of the highest advantage, as in whaling and shipwreck, and even in pleasure or fishing` excursions.

Having thus fully set forth my invention, what I claim therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

The combination of the portable propelling and steering apparatus with the clamp d and c e, arranged and operating substantiallyas and in the manner set forth.

THOMAS REEOE.

Witnesses:

FELIX W. TALLEY, E. R. BADGER. 

